Phuket’s Latest Cocktail Bar Serves Local Botanicals in an Intimate Jungle-Inspired Setting
Since opening in January, InterContinental Phuket Resort’s Sipping Tiger has established itself as one of Phuket’s most intriguing new cocktail destinations, pairing locally sourced botanicals with considered technique.
At the two-Michelin Key InterContinental Phuket Resort, a new cocktail den joins the vibrant repertoire of the island’s renowned bar scene. Called Sipping Tiger, the space acts as an immersive hideaway where Thailand’s lush terroir, modern mixology, and a distinctly tropical sense of place shape the drinking experience.
The transition begins the moment guests leave the resort’s airy lobby for the quieter confines of the bar. Conceived as a tiger’s den nestled within the forest, Sipping Tiger is deliberately cocooning: verdant motifs, warm timber, woven textures, and tactile finishes evoke the rawness of nature without sacrificing refinement. At the centre, a rattan backdrop and softly lit woven pendant lights frame the bar as a thematic stage where the mixologists work their craft.
At the heart of Sipping Tiger’s beverage programme are head of beverages Alif Abru and bar manager Kunawut “Kim” Wongruen, two Thai bartenders whose approach is grounded in exploring local ingredients and thoughtful technique.
At Sipping Tiger, the duo extends the hotel’s principles of sustainability and ecosystem stewardship. Their starting point is the Botanical Room, a dedicated space where herbs are cultivated on racks before making their way into the glass. Thai basil, Thai cilantro, lemon verbena, dill, thyme, and an assortment of mints are grown alongside ingredients sourced from the resort’s on-site garden, before those herbaceous flavours are extracted, distilled, and then incorporated into every tipple.
The result is a menu that moves deliberately through the evening, beginning with lighter, more refreshing serves before progressing towards richer and more contemplative pours. Highlights include the Calamansi Riposato, an aperitivo-style cocktail that shakes cinnamon and peach sherbet, bianco vermouth, and vodka into a spiced and fruity number; Smoke & Summer, a smoky yet refreshing Mezcal Paloma variant that layers fermented local pineapple agave, grapefruit soda, and pink lime salt; and Den It Again, which spotlights Sipping Tiger’s Aged Local Agricole Rum created in partnership with Vietnam’s Chalong Bay Rum, crafted from local sugarcane and matured in French oak and ex-bourbon barrels.
Careful curation has also been put into the food menu, which is designed to complement the cocktails. Guests can expect a mix of elevated bar classics and playful new creations, such as Egg & Eggs, a silky, savoury steamed egg custard topped with caviar, and a sumptuous serving of tiramisu, lifted with Amaretto sabayon—a decadent way to end the night.
Sipping Tiger at InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG is open daily from 5pm to 1am.
You May Also Like
